The Alma Inn in Linton was recently awarded Pub of the Year for 2016 by Herefordshire CAMRA. The new owners, Gemma and Dan Evans took over the reins of the late Victorian village inn, in January 2015.

The competition judges were particularly impressed with the beer selection on the bar at the Alma. Regular cask beers are from Oakham, Bristol Beer Factory, Malvern Hills and Butcome breweries.

Mark Haslam of Herefordshire CAMRA said:?“The Alma Inn is an outstanding package, well-run, laid back, and always worth the trip along winding country latest to its welcoming doorstep. It’s a shining example of how a village pub can evolve, yet remain true to its traditional values.”

Gemma told the Ross Gazette that it had been their lifelong dream to take on a pub. Gemma said that they thought the Alma Inn was a pub they could really put their own mark on.

Dan, who has 20 years of experience working in breweries, told the Gazette that it was very important to himself and Gemma to keep the regular customers happy after they took the pub on from the previous landlords.

He said that the previous landlords had left a legacy, and the pub was well-known as an “ale haven,” But Dan, who also shares a passion for craft beer, was keen to build on what his predecessors had done.

Gemma and Dan moved to Herefordshire from Cambridgeshire two years ago when they took on the pub, and Dan said thay are “thoroughly delighted” with how successful the pub has been.